Obituary for Nancy Grieco
Let me start by saying my Mom didn’t like obituaries and I’ve certainly never written one before, so this will be far from anything traditional, just something I hope would make Mom smile.
It is with very heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our Mom, Nancy, following a long battle with COPD and having recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. Mom always feared dying alone or in a hospital, so we are at least glad to say that she passed away at home with her children at her side. Although it was excruciatingly difficult for us to watch, we were able to tell her how much we loved her, what an amazing Mom she was, and promise her we would be ok. We hope it made her passing more peaceful.
Mom was brought into this world by Frederick and Rosina Smith on April 20, 1944. She has one sibling, her older sister Diane. They have often affectionately been called “The Smith Girls”.
Mom lived her entire life right here in Maspeth, minus a short stint in Smithtown. She graduated from Grover Cleveland High School, where she met our father, George. He sat behind her in class and would pull her hair. For some unknown reason she married him anyway. They bought a house in Smithtown and commuted into the city every day, Mom in her little Volkswagen Bug. They quickly realized this wasn’t the life for them, sold the house, and came back to Maspeth. I (Joanne) was born in 1968 and my brother Anthony in 1970. Together my parents built a small local business renting cars and trucks, and Mom worked tirelessly. Eventually my brother and I would work there as well. Mom would be the first to say not all marriages have a happy ending, but she would describe her divorce as just that, a happy ending.
Anthony moved on, but I remained in the truck rental business with my partner Bernard, and of course, there was Mom, showing up to work every day, doing whatever she could to help out. Mom came to think of Bernard as a son, so it doesn’t sound right to refer to him as my business partner. The more appropriate term would be family. Mom worked every day until the Covid shutdown, and continued to help out as I worked from home, right up until a month or so ago. She was hospitalized just after Christmas and she kept saying “I have to get home, you need help with the paperwork!” That was Mom, always worried about what she could possibly do to help out.
One of Mom’s greatest joys was being a Grandmother. Her only grandchild, Anthony’s daughter Rachael, was born in 2001 and brought Mom so,much happiness. Rachael grew up spending many weekends at my house with JoJo & Grandma as she called us. Mom had such fond memories of those times and I know Rachael realizes how lucky she was to have had such an amazing Grandma.
The hole left in our hearts is one that will be impossible to fill. She was an amazing Mom who always put everyone else first, especially her children. She loved to cook and made the most amazing food. She was that Mom that cooked dinner every night, even after working all day, making daily trips to the store because everything had to be fresh.
Mom was a gambler at heart, loved to go to Atlantic City, and she was always pretty lucky! Nothing could put a smile on Mom’s face like a jackpot! As corny as it may sound it was us that hit the biggest jackpot, having had this amazing woman as our Mom.
I could go on and on, but everyone who knew my Mom knew how awesome she was. She has moved on to a place where she is no longer short of breath and doesn’t ever have to worry about tripping over or untangling her oxygen hose ever again. No more nebulizing, no more Tyvaso. She wouldn’t want us to be sad, she would want us to remember the good times, to tell all the silly stories over and over.
Mom was predeceased by her parents, her dearest friend and partner in crime, Gloria, and her niece Laura. She is survived by her birth children, Joanne and Anthony, granddaughter Rachael, son by choice Bernard, sister and brother-in-law Diane & Ronnie, niece Lisa, and nephews Scott and Derek.
We love you. Rest In Peace Mom. Please don’t worry, we’ll be ok. I promise
It is with very heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our Mom, Nancy, following a long battle with COPD and having recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. Mom always feared dying alone or in a hospital, so we are at least glad to say that she passed away at home with her children at her side. Although it was excruciatingly difficult for us to watch, we were able to tell her how much we loved her, what an amazing Mom she was, and promise her we would be ok. We hope it made her passing more peaceful.
Mom was brought into this world by Frederick and Rosina Smith on April 20, 1944. She has one sibling, her older sister Diane. They have often affectionately been called “The Smith Girls”.
Mom lived her entire life right here in Maspeth, minus a short stint in Smithtown. She graduated from Grover Cleveland High School, where she met our father, George. He sat behind her in class and would pull her hair. For some unknown reason she married him anyway. They bought a house in Smithtown and commuted into the city every day, Mom in her little Volkswagen Bug. They quickly realized this wasn’t the life for them, sold the house, and came back to Maspeth. I (Joanne) was born in 1968 and my brother Anthony in 1970. Together my parents built a small local business renting cars and trucks, and Mom worked tirelessly. Eventually my brother and I would work there as well. Mom would be the first to say not all marriages have a happy ending, but she would describe her divorce as just that, a happy ending.
Anthony moved on, but I remained in the truck rental business with my partner Bernard, and of course, there was Mom, showing up to work every day, doing whatever she could to help out. Mom came to think of Bernard as a son, so it doesn’t sound right to refer to him as my business partner. The more appropriate term would be family. Mom worked every day until the Covid shutdown, and continued to help out as I worked from home, right up until a month or so ago. She was hospitalized just after Christmas and she kept saying “I have to get home, you need help with the paperwork!” That was Mom, always worried about what she could possibly do to help out.
One of Mom’s greatest joys was being a Grandmother. Her only grandchild, Anthony’s daughter Rachael, was born in 2001 and brought Mom so,much happiness. Rachael grew up spending many weekends at my house with JoJo & Grandma as she called us. Mom had such fond memories of those times and I know Rachael realizes how lucky she was to have had such an amazing Grandma.
The hole left in our hearts is one that will be impossible to fill. She was an amazing Mom who always put everyone else first, especially her children. She loved to cook and made the most amazing food. She was that Mom that cooked dinner every night, even after working all day, making daily trips to the store because everything had to be fresh.
Mom was a gambler at heart, loved to go to Atlantic City, and she was always pretty lucky! Nothing could put a smile on Mom’s face like a jackpot! As corny as it may sound it was us that hit the biggest jackpot, having had this amazing woman as our Mom.
I could go on and on, but everyone who knew my Mom knew how awesome she was. She has moved on to a place where she is no longer short of breath and doesn’t ever have to worry about tripping over or untangling her oxygen hose ever again. No more nebulizing, no more Tyvaso. She wouldn’t want us to be sad, she would want us to remember the good times, to tell all the silly stories over and over.
Mom was predeceased by her parents, her dearest friend and partner in crime, Gloria, and her niece Laura. She is survived by her birth children, Joanne and Anthony, granddaughter Rachael, son by choice Bernard, sister and brother-in-law Diane & Ronnie, niece Lisa, and nephews Scott and Derek.
We love you. Rest In Peace Mom. Please don’t worry, we’ll be ok. I promise